Training camp is underway for the Los Angeles Rams, signaling the end of summer break and the beginning of the grind leading up to Week 1. The Rams will start with an acclimation period to open camp before the pads come on a bit later and players start hitting, but the competition is going to be hot from Day 1.
Looking up and down the Rams’ roster, a lot of the starting spots are already determined. But when it comes to primary backups and third-stringers, there’s a lot to be sorted out. These eight position groups have some of the most important competitions on the roster, which is why we’ll be keeping a close eye on each of them from the beginning to the end of camp.
Running back
Kyren Williams is the undisputed starter but there will be competition behind him. Blake Corum and rookie Jarquez Hunter are vying for the RB2 role, which may not come with as many opportunities as some other backup running backs but is still an important spot on the depth chart.
Corum is more similar to Williams, which is part of the reason the Rams liked him in the 2024 NFL Draft, while Hunter brings speed and explosiveness to a position that badly needs it. It can sometimes take rookie running backs a little while to break through with the Rams but if Hunter is creating big plays consistently, he could leapfrog Corum as Williams’ primary backup.
Wide receiver
Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are the clear-cut top two receivers but on a team that often has three wideouts on the field, there’s room for other players to contribute. Based on his $10 million guaranteed contract, Tutu Atwell figures to be the No. 3 option, but the Rams have always been a meritocracy so don’t be surprised if another receiver pushes him for playing time.
The biggest competition will be at WR4 where Jordan Whittington, Konata Mumpfield, Xavier Smith and maybe even Britain Covey will be battling for snaps. Whittington has the most promise of that group and with a good camp, he’ll be more in the mix this season.
Tight end
Tyler Higbee could face some competition from rookie Terrance Ferguson, but regardless of who has a better performance in camp, both will play meaningful snaps this season. Ferguson will first need to outplay Colby Parkinson, who could be competing with Davis Allen for the final tight end spot on the roster.
This group has a good blend of proven talent and promising potential, so the Rams should feel confident in their tight ends entering the season regardless of which one shines the brightest in practice.
Swing tackle
Sean McVay said Tuesday that there’s a “very real possibility” of Alaric Jackson playing in Week 1 as he continues to recover from blood clots in his leg. That’s encouraging to hear but the Rams still need a reliable swing tackle to back up Jackson and Rob Havenstein.
D.J. Humphries and David Quessenberry will be competing with Warren McClendon Jr., A.J. Arcuri and others for the role previously held by Joe Noteboom, making the next few weeks extremely important.
Given Jackson’s condition and Havenstein’s age, it’s essential that the Rams have someone they can count on as a swing tackle.
No. 3 edge rusher
Jared Verse and Byron Young remain the top two edge rushers for the Rams this year after an outstanding first season together in 2024. No one will push Verse for snaps and it’s highly unlikely anyone will contend for Young’s job, either. However, the No. 3 outside linebacker spot is completely up for grabs following the departure of Michael Hoecht in free agency.
It could come down to Josaiah Stewart, Nick Hampton and Brennan Jackson, though Keir Thomas is in the mix, too. Stewart lacks experience as a rookie but he plays with a ton of fire and aggression, which is bound to stand out in training camp.
Inside linebacker
Good luck trying to predict which linebackers will be the two starters come Week 1. Omar Speights, Nate Landman, Chris Paul Jr. and Troy Reeder are the primary candidates for the role, but rookie Shaun Dolac is a sleeper who could make the team and work his way up the depth chart like Speights did last year as an undrafted rookie.
This is not only the most wide-open competition there is, but it’s also the weakest spot on the roster. So unless someone really shines in practice, it’s likely to remain a weakness on defense.
Cornerback
The Rams opted not to cut Darious Williams to save some money this offseason, and they also brought back Ahkello Witherspoon after a strong finish to the year. Cobie Durant is still in L.A., too, so when it comes to pure cornerbacks, the top three from last year are all back in the mix.
Quentin Lake will be an every-down player again, Derion Kendrick is back healthy and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. is a sleeper at corner, so the depth is there. It’s just a matter of finding out which three cornerbacks should play the most out of everyone. With Lake in the slot, it could come down to Williams, Witherspoon and Durant competing for two jobs on the outside.
Punt returner
This time last year, the Rams shocked everyone by experimenting with Kyren Williams on punt returns. Fortunately, he won’t need to be back there on special teams this summer because the Rams have two good options: Xavier Smith and Britain Covey.
Covey adds some competition to a spot that didn’t have much last season, so he’ll push Smith for reps and could end up unseating Xavier by the end of camp. Covey has been one of the better return specialists in recent years, making him a legitimate threat to win this battle.
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This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams training camp: 8 position battles to watch